Best Greek Island?

[Poed]

Going to take my mum on her first holiday in 5 years (ploughed all her money on her new house post divorce).

Where is just breath breathtakingly beautiful and not a tourist trap a la Mykonos?

We adore swimming in little coves, sun bathting, reading on the beach and going out for meals/drinks. A little bit of civilisation for shopping would be nice. It doesn’t have to be the most buzzing place.

Don’t know where to start!

I’m thinking you can’t go wrong with Corfu?

Kefalonia- not overly touristy but enough to get by . Beautiful sandy beaches and blue sea for swimming .

This is going to sound random but what are the chances of encountering stray dogs? I just find it heartbreaking. I made friends with one in Thailand and it broke my heart. Never again. I know I am very weird for this

Zakynthos, particularly Argassi and Gerakas areas are stunning. Amazing beaches (we stayed in Gerakas and were walking distance from three sandy beaches). Argassi is more lively, Gerakas quieter but busy enough. We did a boat trip to the shipwreck and swam in the caves, it was pretty amazing and I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Symi?

How about one of those caique holidays where the boat goes from cove to cove?

Well, it depends how good you and your Mum are with having nothing to do. Apart from going for lunch, dinner, walking to that quiet cove for a swim, sitting and watching the children play, or the big ship pulling in (bringing washing machines, fridges for next doors bar, exiting stuff like that). If this sounds like your kind of thing, I'd recommend Halki, as it was five years ago.

Cannot say what it's like now, but when I was able to travel, I loved every moment of the two months a year I used to spend there.

Just avoid the harbour between 11:00 and 4:00 while the day trippers are there.

YABU.

Ffs.

Why do we have holidays and travel topics? Just why??

Never heard of that. Will google.

You could just have avoided clicking the link.

Rhodes.

Although I've not been to any smaller ones much as I'd like to!

My best friend and I had a lovely holiday in Thassos (years ago, mind) but it was just what we needed as both had been very stressed with our respective jobs - it was quiet, beautiful and super cheap (and definitely one of the less well known islands).

Paxos. Wonderful

Corfu is full of pretty coves, just avoid the '18-30's' resorts and I agree you can't go too far wrong.
As above Kefalonia is stunning, not too touristy and beaches are gorgeous. Crete is huge so a lot of choice, have loved both resorts I've stayed in (opposite ends of the island) and the venetian port of chania is very picturesque. Heraklion airport is vile though.
You could fly into Athens and get a boat to hydra, aegina, spetses etc. Beautiful but obvs journey longer.

Corfu. Been 3 times it's beautiful.

Are you ok - this seems a competely disproportionate response to the OP's question - even more so given you voluntarily clicked and read her thread?

My dd went to Kefalonia last year and loved it, but as another poster mentioned you could do a bit of island hopping?

My favourite are Corfu and Kefalonia, Rhodes is nice bit generally busier.

Having said that different resorts on the same island will will have a different feel. Some will be mainly all inclusive hotels, others busy beach sports and nightlife and others more relaxed with taverns and restaurants. Also check the beach as some are more shingle than sand.

Ithaca. Bliss.

Nine Muses Hotel in Skala, Kefalonia. Someone on here recommended it, and we've been twice in 4 years.
Great facilities, across the rd from the beach and a 5 min walk to restaurants and a few shops in the evening. Boat trips run from there as well

Not dogs … but lots of cats !

Oh I loved the nine muses in kefalonia too. We went just after it had opened and been featured on some travel show years ago.

also recommend Skiathos. And paxos. They are all lovely tbh

This reply wins the thread. Fly direct to Kefalonia from most UK airports, spend a few days in Kefalonia if you can? Then take the ferry and cross to Ithaca. Short trip, 1 hr max? We've been to Kefalonia several times, and twice to Ithaca.

Zante (Zakynthos) is also really lovely, just avoid the touristy bits. We stayed in Keri. Was absolute bliss.

Unfortunately quite high chances of stray cats and dogs, although the situation in my home country is slowly improving. I feel you, I struggle too. It's more cats for me though.

Edited to add: Although I should say - strays in Greek islands are more often than not neutered through TNR activities from rescues, and normally well fed. Yes of course they shouldn't be strays and every time we go back I want to adopt all of the stray cats, but it's a bit easier on my poor heart when I realise that they're actually friendly sociable neutered chonks chilling around tavernas having yummy food and a stroke. The strays in cities like Athens are a whole different story, although there is very active volunteering and rescues who are helping to turn this around.

Thanks all. I’m just going to research 7 days in all the islands suggested and plop for the cheapest.

Kefalonia. Parts of Crete.